-> ''"There are seven working defenses from this position. Three of them disarm with minimal contact. Three of them kill. The other'' - [KRAKK] - ''hurts."''-->-- '''Batman'''

''Batman: The Dark Knight Returns'' is a four-issue Franchise/{{Batman}} comic book miniseries written and drawn by Creator/FrankMiller and published by Creator/DCComics from February to June 1986.

In this storyline, Batman has been retired for ten years, alcoholic and consumed with grief after the death of Jason Todd, the second ComicBook/{{Robin}}[[note]]a full '''two years''' before "A Death in the Family," mind you[[/note]]. Franchise/{{Superman}}, still as young and handsome as ever, has become little more than an icon, answering to the government and trying to stay as neutral as possible. Commissioner Gordon is weeks away from retirement, ComicBook/TheJoker has been silently locked away in Arkham for years, and Two-Face is about to be released back into the world with a brand new skin. In Batman's absence, and in the midst of a killer heat wave, Gotham City is overrun with crime, plagued by a monstrously violent gang known as The Mutants. After encountering a Mutant gang in the alley where his parents were murdered, Bruce Wayne resurrects Batman, aided in his renewed crusade by Carrie Kelley, a 13-year-old girl who becomes the third Robin. Defeating the Mutants, though, turns out to be child's play compared to what Batman faces next...

TDKR is a seminal comic book work, with a gritty, unique style that's draped in the best of FilmNoir techniques. Batman is a bitter, angry figure who [[PrivateEyeMonologue narrates much of the story with philosophical musings]] and breaking down his methods. [[KentBrockmanNews News Broadcasts shed light]] on the political debates surrounding Batmans' influence, positive and negative, on the criminal underworld. The art itself is moody and atmospheric, [[DeliberatelyMonochrome black and grey dominate every page]] and [[SplashOfColor the use of red and yellow are eyesores]]. It is often considered as influential as ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' in demonstrating the possible "[[TrueArtIsAngsty maturity]]" of the comic book medium, and, along with ''Watchmen'', it ushered in UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks (for good or bad). It was also highly influential in the DCU's recasting of Batman and Superman's relationship: no longer are they perfect friends, The World's Finest, but rather somewhat distant and distrusting (if respectful) of each other.

Since its release, a number of Miller's Batman-related works have tied into TDKR in one way or another:* In 1987 Miller did ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'' with David Mazzucchelli during his one-arc-long run in the main ''Batman'' book. Though it was supposed to be the origin of New Earth's Batman, WordOfGod says that it was written so that it could also serve as a prequel to DKR.* In 1994 the much ignored ''Spawn/Batman'' came out, written by Miller and drawn by Todd [=McFarlane=]. It was an (ill-advised) crossover between the ComicBook/{{Spawn}} Universe and the Dark Knight Universe and {{canon}} to both, whose only tie to TDKR was that it showed where Batman got the technology that he would use to build his power suit... and that's only a couple of pages.* In 2001 and 2002, Miller produced a sequel, ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain''. It was more set ''around'' Batman than ''about'' Batman, being closer to a Franchise/{{Justice League|of America}} story or even a Superman story than a Batman story. Questionable artwork and story developments have made this one of the more controversial Batman stories to date.* In 2005 to 2008, Miller wrote a prequel, ''ComicBook/AllStarBatmanAndRobinTheBoyWonder,'' which was even more controversially received than ''Strikes Again''. It eventually went on hiatus, and [[DevelopmentHell was meant to return]] as ''Dark Knight: Boy Wonder''.* In 2015 a third volume titled ''ComicBook/DarkKnightIIITheMasterRace'' was announced, to be written with Creator/BrianAzzarello.

There have been a handful of animated references to TDKR as well. The first is a ten-minute segment in the DCAU, considered to be among the best adaptations of a Frank Miller work. Damian Wayne's child, who resembles Carrie Kelley, also makes a very brief cameo as a future Robin in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', fighting mutants in a "what-if" story. One episode of ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' featured a future version of Darkwing that was heavily influenced by TDKR's depiction of Batman in the later issues.

In 2012 and 2013, WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies released [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns an animated film adaptation]], told over [[MovieMultipack two parts]].

A couple of elements from this story were borrowed by Creator/ChristopherNolan for ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'', especially with ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises''. Even more elements of the story are said to be utilized in the Film/DCExtendedUniverse as far as that version of Batman is concerned, with ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' even serving as a [[PragmaticAdaptation partial adaptation]] in addition to telling an original story.

----!!This miniseries contains examples of:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: A-E]]* AirVentPassageway: The gigantic leader of the Mutant gang is behind bars awaiting trial. Batman knows that being in prison won't hurt his gang cred one bit (it helps that the Mutant leader spends his free time annoying the prison guards and bragging about what kind of havoc he will make when he gets out, instead of showing remorse... and he also ''assassinated the Mayor in horrific fashion'') -- to break the Mutant gang, you must ''break'' its leader. Thus, he and Gordon arrange for the leader to escape via the prison air vents and meet Batman for a mud pit duel.* TheAlcoholic: Dialogue from Gordon and Alfred at the start of the series suggests that Bruce is dangerously close to becoming one, if he's not there already. Once he resumes the mission, it's never mentioned again.* AnimeHair: [[CoincidentalBroadcast TV reporter]] Lola Wong and her improbably triangular hair. See FashionableAsymmetry.* AntiHero: ** Batman is an UnscrupulousHero or PragmaticHero, being more ruthless than his original DC counterpart.** The Sons Of Batman are more or less {{Nominal Hero}}es, as their "crime-fighting" is just as violent as their crimes when they were Mutants.* AntiVillain: Franchise/{{Superman}} is a PunchClockVillain overlapping with HeroAntagonist in this miniseries. He only reluctantly fights against Batman under orders from the US government.* ArcWords:** For Batman: "Lucky" and "This would be a ___ death."** For Gordon: "I think of Sarah. The rest is easy."* AttemptedRape: One of the first crimes Bruce stops after he redons the cape and cowl.* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Par for the course with Batman, right down to his fights. The page quote is one such example, as he takes down an armed criminal coming up behind him in a dark room by breaking his leg with a kick.* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Batman and Catwoman.* AxCrazy:** The Mutants kill indiscriminately and with an almost childish glee; one even mentions that they have a quota for murders. Their leader is just as deadly, openly proclaiming that he'll kill Batman and Gordon and eat their hearts.** The Sons of the Batman don't lose any of their viciousness once they break away from the Mutants, they just start targeting criminals.** The Joker is depicted as having a love/hate fixation on Batman that he feeds with his indiscriminate killing.---> '''Joker (inner dialogue)''': They could put me in a helicopter and fly me up into the air and line up the bodies head to toe on the ground in delightful geometric patterns like an endless June Taylor dancers routine -- and it would never be enough. No, I don't keep count. But you do. And I love you for it.* BadassBoast: The Mutant leader and Batman exchange them [[spoiler:in the mud pit]].-->'''Mutant Leader:''' Batman! Face me, fool! [[HulkSpeak I kill you! I eat you heart!]] I show you who rules Gotham City!\\'''Batman:''' *''rises up out of the mud where he's been hidden''* Okay, boy. [[BringIt Show me.]]* BadassNormal: [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Do you need to ask?]]* BadFuture: Batman is gone for ten years and ''everything'' goes to hell.* BananaRepublic: Corto Maltese.* BatmanGambit: Bruce uses quite a few over the series. Even his final trick relies on [[spoiler:knowing Clark will let him go]].* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: Happens twice, once when [[spoiler:the Joker breaks his own neck(!)]] to frame Batman.* {{Bifauxnen}}:** Carrie. The police even mistake her for a boy.** Yindel too, although she's a somewhat more butch example.* BigBad: The US President, who [[TakeThat bares more than a slight resemblance]] to then-current President UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan. * BigBlackout: Affecting the entire U.S., and caused by an electromagnetic pulse from the nuclear explosion.* BlackHelicopter: The Batcopter.* BookEnds: Inverted--> [''at the opening, as Bruce's racecar crashes''] This would be a good death, but not good enough.--> [[spoiler:[''at the finale, as he begins his life in the shadows, training his army''] This will be a good life. Good enough.]]* BrassBalls: {{Subverted|Trope}} by Byron Brassballs. With that name, you'd think he'd be an exemplar of courage, but he's really a complete asshole who [[JustForPun brazenly]] justifies his sociopathically self-centered behavior and actions in his interviews.* BreakingTheFourthWall: Batman swears in his inner monologue that he's firing rubber bullets on the Mutants. There's seriously no way he's not trying to directly convince the reader he's telling the truth.* BreakTheCutie: This is essentially what happens when [[spoiler:Carrie sees the bodies of the Cub Scouts who took the poisoned cotton candy from the Joker]]. Batman's internal dialogue lampshades it.* CapeWings: The imagery is {{invoked|Trope}} when Batman uses his cape to appear to break his fall when confronting the police during the Joker's attack on ''The David Endochrine Show'' and the Joker later on at the fair. The cover art used as the page image above also invokes this imagery.* CheapCostume: Carrie Kelly's Robin suit is an off-the-rack costume. She even appears to paint the frames of her glasses black to better emulate his mask for her first patrol.* ChestInsignia: [[JustifiedTrope Turns out]] [[BulletProofVest it's bulletproof]].-->'''Batman (internal):''' Why do you think I wear a target on my chest? I can't armor my head.* CoincidentalBroadcast: Used throughout for {{exposition}}.* CombatPragmatist:** The Mutant leader puts his claw-like fingernails and filed teeth to good use in the first fight against Batman.** Batman becomes one in his second fight with the Mutant leader, since brute force failed spectacularly the first time.* ComicBookTime: Averted. Part of the inspiration was Frank Miller wondering "What if Batman actually got older after taking up crimefighting in the '40s?"* CoolGuns: A few:** Invoked by Batman when he comments on one of the military-grade handguns used by the Mutants. It's slightly futuristic-looking and specially adapted for a silencer.** The [=MP40=] is very common. Not only do the Neo-Nazis led by Bruno use them, but, oddly, so do the guards at the police station!* CoolOldGuy: C'mon now. Batman, Alfred for being so up in the years, still serving ''and'' snarky, Jim Gordon, Green Arrow, Superman (despite being arguably on the wrong side), and even the Joker in a dark and nasty way.* CrapsackWorld: Between the Mutants, the heat wave, and general decay, Gotham has become a rather nasty place to live.* CrazyPrepared: You do know who this comic is about, right?* CurbStompBattle: Batman's second fight with the Mutant leader. He uses his brains instead of pure brawn, and while he doesn't come away unscathed, he does win decisively.* DarkerAndEdgier: Robin kills. Batman mutilates. ComicBook/TheJoker's massacres are graphically portrayed. Creator/FrankMiller lays out his [[StrawmanPolitical grim feelings]] of [[{{Eagleland}} America]] for all to see.* DatingCatwoman: Literally; it's never said outright, but Selena's voicemail to Bruce is a huge hint, they kiss before [[spoiler:Batman and Robin go after the Joker]], and Gordon has to restrain her from physically attacking [[spoiler:Superman]] after [[spoiler:Bruce Wayne's funeral]] concludes.* DeadpanSnarker: The Joker lays the snark on thick, but only truly descends into the cackling madman we're familiar with [[spoiler:in his final moments as he twists his head around]].* DeathByDisfigurement: Toyed with. [[spoiler:Batman breaks the Joker's neck just enough to cause paralysis. The Joker finishes the job by himself, both to frame Batman for his death and to spite Batman.]] And yes, it's medically possible. It's the reason why people tell you not to move after car accidents.* DeathSeeker:** Bruce has become one by the start of the story, and after he becomes Batman again, he frequently remarks on how certain things would be good or bad deaths as the story progresses.** Batman suspects that [[spoiler:Harvey Dent]] has become one due to what's happened to him, and by the time his arc is complete, it's proven to be correct.* {{Deconstruction}}: Batman's tactics spur debates on toughness on crime, while Superman's idealism makes him an ideal government cat's paw. The story also deconstructs many elements of Batman's mythos, particularly his potential insanity, as well as showing what kind of [[CrapsackWorld world]] would make Batman not only possible, but necessary.* DefeatingTheUndefeatable: [[spoiler:Batman beats Superman.]] Not without some trickery, but still.* DependingOnTheWriter: Happens to Batman and Superman a lot but Batman's X-Ray seeking missiles wouldn't be able to tell Superman from anyone else normally because Superman's X-Ray Vision doesn't actually emit X-Rays [[note]]not since the GoldenAge when they pulled double duty as his EyeBeam attack.[[/note]]* DespairEventHorizon: Batman suspects that [[spoiler:Harvey Dent]] has been pushed across this. In their final confrontation, it's confirmed by his dialogue and emotional breakdown. * {{Determinator}}: Bruce/Batman. Despite being [[spoiler:gutshot and stabbed multiple times by the Joker and shot at several times by the police, Batman still manages to elude them by getting to the Bat-Copter]].* DistaffCounterpart: Carrie to Robin, and hanging on Bruce's every word she becomes more and more like him.* DoesntLikeGuns: Played straight at first in issue 4, as Batman invokes the trope in his speech to the Sons of the Batman:-->'''Batman''': *''breaks a shotgun in two with his hands''* This loud, clumsy, ''stupid'' thing... this is the weapon of the enemy. We do not need it. We will not use it.** That being said, he will use them when they're necessary. In the first issue, he uses a rifle to shoot a grappling line between the Gotham Towers to [[spoiler:confront Two-Face and his henchmen]]. In the fourth issue, he uses [[spoiler:Commissioner Yindel's]] gun to shoot some plastic explosive. He also gets pushed into using one when taking on [[spoiler:three Mutant kidnappers who have a toddler as a hostage]]. The confrontation culminates with [[spoiler:Batman pointing one of the Mutant's guns (a frigging [[{{BFG}} M60 GPMG]]) at the last kidnapper, who is holding the hostage at gunpoint.]]--->[[spoiler:'''Mutant''': I'll do it man, believe me! Believe me!]]\\[[spoiler:'''Batman''': *''Shoots the wall behind him and rescues the child''* I believe you.]]* DontMakeMeDestroyYou: Throughout the fight between [[spoiler:Batman and Superman]], Supes makes it clear from the start that [[spoiler:he doesn't want to kill Bats]] and practically begs him throughout to just give up so he doesn't have to.* TheEighties: A lot of the action and political commentary stems from real-world politics of the period, in particular [[spoiler:the U.S. - Soviet arms race]], which comes to a head in part four.* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Of a sort. At the start of the story, Bruce has a mustache, but after a sleepwalk (or psychosis-driven fugue; it's not made clear which) into the Batcave, Alfred notices that he's shaved it off...and he didn't realize he'd done it.* EyesAlwaysShut: The reporter Lola Wong. Even when [[spoiler:Two-Face shoots a missile into the skyscraper where their studio is located]], she never opens her eyes.* EyeScream: To reiterate: Sharp batarangs are sharp. [[spoiler:Joker]] learned the hard way.[[/folder]]

[[folder: F-J]]* FakingTheDead: [[spoiler:Batman fakes his death in the final chapter.]] It fools everyone...''almost''.* FalselyReformedVillain: Happens twice, when the same psychiatrist [[WhatAnIdiot declares Two-Face legally sane and recommends the Joker make a talk show appearance as part of his rehabilitation]].* FashionableAsymmetry: The newscaster Lola Wong always wears asymmetrical earrings, plus [[AnimeHair she has a triangular hairstyle]] that is much higher on one side than the other.* FatalMethodActing: InUniverse, The Joker makes his grand comeback by murdering everyone on ''The David Endochrine Show'', including David himself and Ruth Weisenheimer.* FatGirl: [[spoiler:'''Comicbook/LanaLang.''']] IWasQuiteALooker is averted, though, as her usual depiction is never addressed.* FearlessFool: Gets some {{deconstruction}} in Harvey Dent, who at the climax of their confrontation leans so far out of his helicopter to try to shoot Batman that he falls from it, with Batman (not knowing for sure that it's actually Dent) noting that whoever it is has Dent's lack of sense of self-preservation. The deconstruction comes from Dent being a DeathSeeker who may have done that on purpose.* FeelingTheirAge: Batman is portrayed like this. He starts as a RetiredBadass, but soon returns to crime-fighting. Throughout the story Batman keeps on lamenting how slow he's become, culminating in the fight between him and the Mutant leader, who is, as Batman himself states, "in his physical prime". [[spoiler:Batman loses, but only because he "tried to fight like a young man". Later he beats the Mutant leader with some CombatPragmatist moves.]]* FlatlinePlotline: Batman's ultimate plot in the fourth issue is to [[spoiler:remove himself from the public spotlight by faking his death]]. Being Batman, [[spoiler:he kills himself for a while using a special drug, using the fight with Superman both as a cover and as an excuse to work out his anger and frustration with Superman]].* {{Foreshadowing}}: Due to age and rust, Batman isn't as stealthy as he used to be. The thugs he's pursuing in the first chapter hear floorboards creaking under him and note that "[...] he never used to make noise before." This bites him hard in the third chapter when the Joker hears one of the funhouse mirrors creaking under his weight and shoots him as he breaks through it.* {{Forgiveness}}: Bruce Wayne has forgiven Joe Chill for killing parents, finally understanding that all he ever wanted was money before the situation escalated. In spite of this, his Batman mindset still wants to punish him for robbery and murder in general.-->'''Bruce''': He flinched when he pulled the trigger. He was sick and guilty over what he did. All he wanted was money. I was naive enough to think him the lowest sort of man.* FreudianExcuse: A psychiatrist blames Batman for making the Joker into a raving loon. [[spoiler:He might have a point, but the Joker kills him.]]* FunWithAcronyms: Sons Of the Batman = [=SOBs=]* FutureSlang: The Mutants are all over this one. "Balls nasty!"[[note]]a strong epithet[[/note]], "spud" vs. "slicer-dicer"[[note]]rookie Mutant vs. long-timer[[/note]], "chicken legs"[[note]]women[[/note]], and many others.* GangOfHats: The Mutants and their various splinter groups.* GodzillaThreshold: Discussed at length. During Commissioner Gordon and his replacement Yindel's first conversation, she asks him why he's allowed a vigilante like Batman to operate in Gotham. Gordon talks about the first time he heard the UrbanLegend that UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt let [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII Pearl Harbor]] happen in order to get the US into WWII and stop the greater evil of the Axis. He went back and forth on whether it was morally acceptable if true, until he realized the whole thing was "too big" for him to judge. Later, after Batman [[spoiler:rallies the Sons of Batman and the Mutants to quell the mass riots]], Yindel finally realizes the same. When asked by an officer if they should do something, she can only respond "No. No. He's too big." Later, a news blurb shows her dodging questions about the police being lax in enforcing her warrants against Batman.* GoingColdTurkey: When Bruce takes up the cowl again, he quits the sauce. He doesn't have any withdrawal issues, possibly because Batman is an even stronger addiction.* GoodNewsBadNews: The President has a very cheerful way of telling the American People about the dangers of nuclear fallout.-->Well folks, I've got good news and bad news. Heh... The good news is that the Soviets have withdrawn their forces from the island of Corto Maltese.... And the bad news, well... It looks like those Soviets are pretty bad losers, yes they are...* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler:Joker]] laughs the entire time [[spoiler:he's twisting his head around to finish breaking his neck]], leaving a grin on his face as he dies.* GrandfatherClause: The Bat-signal is discussed here.* GroinAttack: Happens to Batman at the foot of the Mutant leader during their first fight.--> He shows me what a fast kick is. Something explodes in my midsection. Sunlight behind my eyes as the pain rises.* HallOfMirrors: Batman chases the Joker into one at the fair. [[spoiler:The Joker gut-shoots him after he gives himself away trying to come through a mirror.]]* AHandfulForAnEye: During their second fight, Batman cuts the Mutant leader over the eyes to blind him with the blood, then compounds that by throwing mud in his face.* HandicappedBadass: At some point prior to the beginning of the comic, [[spoiler:Superman]] caused Green Arrow to lose his left arm, which he is still bitter about. It hampers him but doesn't make him any less effective of an archer.-->I want a piece of him. Just a small piece will do...for old times' sake.* HandsOffParenting: Carrie's parents seem to have trouble remembering that she even exists.* HannibalLecture: [[spoiler:The Joker, paralyzed from the neck down,]] hits Batman with one just before [[spoiler:killing himself]].* HateSink: Everything [[{{Jerkass}} Byron Brassballs]] says and does is custom-made to make you want him to get his ass kicked...and he only appears twice.* HeatWave: Gotham has been stuck in one for a while at the start of the series.* HeroicBSOD: In the first issue, Bruce, lost in thought, wanders to the spot where his parents were killed and is confronted by Mutants. Their dialogue (casually talking about killing Bruce and having a ''quota'' for murders, and then dismissing Bruce as their target just as casually because he's "into it") shakes Bruce to his core, as he started the confrontation equating them to his parents' killer in his head.--> '''Bruce''': No. Not him. Not him. He flinched when he pulled the trigger. He was sick and guilty over what he did. [...] These... These are his children. A purer breed. And this world is '''theirs'''.* HesBack:** Batman, after 10 years in retirement.---> '''Reporter''': Police phone lines are jammed with citizens describing what appears to be a siege on Gotham's underworld... [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome by the Batman]].** And Joker in a twisted inverse version.** The media, police and the public in general also collectively freak when Two-Face returns.* HonorBeforeReason: Batman knows that it's best if [[spoiler:he just shoots the Mutant leader in the dump]], but he can't bring himself to cross that line... and it nearly gets him killed.* HulkSpeak: The Mutant leader's dialogue is laced with this, but he can talk normally when he wants to, implying that it's done to play up his monstrous image.* HumanShield: As Batman's chasing the Joker through the fair, the Joker tries this with one of Carrie's friends. Batman promptly tags him with a handful of batarangs.* HumanWeapon: Franchise/{{Superman}} here is nothing but an icon who reports directly to the President, who gives him orders that include waging a one-man war in a BananaRepublic, [[spoiler:stopping the nuclear strike that follows (he doesn't completely succeed)]], and [[spoiler:assassinating Batman]], all of which he does without question.* IAmTheNoun: This is the climax of the "breaking the shotgun" sequence mentioned above.-->'''Batman''': Tonight, ''we'' are the law. Tonight, ''I'' am the law. ''Let's ride.''* IFightForTheStrongestSide: Once the Mutant leader is defeated, the gang disintegrates into a number of splinter groups that define themselves by whatever figurehead they're following; the only thing that remains consistent is their use of violence.* ImAHumanitarian: One of the Mutant leader's {{Catchphrase}}s is his boasts that he will eat Batman's heart.* ImprobableAimingSkills: The ComicBook/GreenArrow is better than you at archery even with one arm... in the dark... in the rain... ''hanging upside down''.* InnerMonologue: Could easily be called 'Inner Dialogue: The Comic'. Batman talks more to himself than any three other characters talk to anyone else put together.* InsaneNoMore: Bart Wolper is the psychiatrist for both the Joker and Harvey Dent while they're in Arkham, and declares both to be sane since the Joker is basically catatonic prior to Batman reappearing and seems calm and collected after, and Harvey's split personality appears to be gone after his new face is revealed to the public. The real result is that Dent becomes a DeathSeeker who believes his face is completely destroyed, and the Joker kills hundreds in a poison gas attack on live TV, with Wolper being killed by the robot that delivered the gas.* InsaneTrollLogic: The Joker's psychiatrist uses this to argue that the Joker himself didn't commit his crimes, Batman did, ''through'' the Joker.* TheInsomniac: The Joker's insomnia is addressed here.* IWasQuiteALooker: Selina Kyle didn't age well. [[spoiler:The Joker]] notices.* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: {{Subverted|Trope}}. Batman doesn't have to actually get violent with perps to get info. Instead, he lets their fear of him do his work for him, although in some cases a bit of setup is needed.** In one instance, Batman scares a perp (the one who had the page quote applied to him earlier on) into talking simply by [[spoiler:walking toward him; the perp falls through a window trying to get away, injuring himself, and talks after Batman tells him that he's the only person who can save him from bleeding to death]].** In another instance, he [[spoiler:hangs an unconscious Mutant upside-down from a gargoyle at the top of a skyscraper, puts a hand over the Mutant's face, and slowly moves his hand away when the Mutant wakes up and tries to cut a deal]]. What makes this even more effective is that the reader doesn't realize all this until it's all said and done; the sequence is drawn from the Mutant's perspective until the last panel.--->'''Batman (internal)''': It was tough work carrying two hundred and twenty pounds of sociopath to the top of one of Gotham's Twin Towers. The scream alone is worth it.* JekyllAndHyde: Averted. Recent breakthroughs in plastic surgery restore Two-Face's appearance. Unfortunately, Dent's mind breaks when he sees his restored face, believing both sides to be destroyed and leading him to take up his old ways in the hope that he'll die when Batman comes to take him down.--> '''Two-Face''': Got them all to keep their lunches down when they saw my face...saying I was cured...saying I was fixed. I'm fixed all right...at least both sides match now! Go ahead, have your laugh! Take a look...take a look... \\'''Batman (internal, as Dent is talking)''': The scars go deep...too deep. I close my eyes and ''listen''. Not fooled by sight, I see him...as he ''is''. [''the panel shows Dent with his entire head a monstrous ruin'']\\'''Batman''': I see... a reflection, Harvey. A reflection. [''the next panel shows a bat's snarling face'']** What makes this scene even more powerful is that Two-Face is the only one of Batman's enemies in the story that he is sympathetic to, as he funded Harvey's surgery and rehabilitation efforts and knows what it's like to be living a dichotomy (Bruce Wayne/Batman vs. Harvey Dent/Two-Face). For bonus points, in ''Batman: Year One'' which occupies the same universe as this book, it's made clear that Harvey Dent was one of Batman's closest allies and friends early in his career.[[/folder]]

[[folder: K-O]]* KryptoniteIsEverywhere: Averted. Kryptonite doesn't show up until the very end of Batman's battle with Superman, when Bruce specifically says that he had to spend years (and millions of dollars) synthesizing it, implying that the naturally occurring stuff is too rare to be a practical weapon. And despite having days to prepare for the showdown, Superman seems genuinely surprised that Bruce was able to get his hands on any at all.* LetThePastBurn: At almost-not-quite the end, Alfred burns down Wayne Manor so that nobody can look through it for evidence or clues after Batman's identity as Bruce Wayne is revealed to the public while [[spoiler:faking his death]].* LiteralMetaphor: The governor is almost strangled by actual [[ObstructiveBureaucrat red tape]].* MadeOfIron: Subverted here.* ManBitesMan: The Mutant leader puts his filed teeth to good use against Batman [[spoiler:and the mayor]].* MediaWatchdog: The public broadcast of the Mutant Leader's video after his capture is cut off after a few sentences...with good reason.-->'''Mutant leader''': ...and then I'll find your new cop - your ''woman'' cop - and I will-\\'''Newscaster''': The rest of the Mutant leader's statement is unfit for broadcast.%% * MistimedRevival* MonsterClown: It should be [[ComicBook/TheJoker obvious]] at this point. Selina notes this after [[spoiler:the Joker attacks her]].-->'''Selina''': Bruce--he's worse than ''ever''.* MuggingTheMonster: {{Defied|Trope}}. The Mutants who are about to attack Bruce at the beginning realize that not only is Bruce really big and strong-looking, but he doesn't seem to be afraid of them, and even looks like he's "into it", and they decide to head to the arcade instead.* NeckSnap:** [[spoiler:Batman]] snaps [[spoiler:the Joker]]'s neck at first, but it only paralyzes him. [[spoiler:The Joker finishes the job for him.]]** This is also how Bobbie kills Dr. Wolper at the TV studio.* NeverForgottenSkill:** The story starts off with Bruce Wayne retired for ten years and an alcoholic. However, once he puts the Batsuit back on, he demonstrates that ten years of retirement and alcohol have not caused him to forget his skills at all.** Even more impressive, the Joker has been straitjacketed in a padded cell for over a decade when he learns of Batman's return [[spoiler:and can barely speak, "b...b...b...b...BATMAN! ... Darling!"]], but returns to the world [[InstantWakingSkills ready for action]].* NiceJobBreakingItHero: While Batman's return helps save Gotham from the CrapsackWorld it has become in his absence, it also causes the Joker to snap out of his 10 years of catatonia and gives him a motive to return to crime.* NixonMask: Used by a group of convenience-store robbers in a throwaway gag.* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Two of the Joker's victims were David Endochrine and Ruth Weisenheimer, who were clearly based on Creator/DavidLetterman and Dr. Ruth Westheimer.* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Batman's first fight with the Mutant Leader. [[spoiler:Robin's intervention]] is the only thing that saves him from getting killed. Fortunately, he learns his lesson, and their second fight ends with the tables completely turned.* NotListeningToMeAreYou: Alfred persuades Bruce to donate to:-->'''Alfred:''' ...the Committee for the Prevention of Obsessive Behaviour in Middle-Aged Men.\\'''Bruce:''' Write them a check.* OddlyNamedSequel2ElectricBoogaloo: This one is followed by a sequel called ''The Dark Knight Strikes Again''.* OhCrap:** The Joker realizes Batman isn't screwing around this time when [[spoiler:he gets a batarang [[EyeScream in the eye]].]]---> *''Joker grabs one of Carrie's friends and puts his gun to her head''*\\'''Batman (internal monologue)''': No, Joker. You're playing the wrong game. The ''old'' game. Tonight you're taking no hostages. Tonight I'm taking no prisoners.\\[[spoiler: *''cue batarangs''*]]\\'''Joker''' *''runs away shooting wildly''*: Out of your ''mind''--** When the Mayor tries to negotiate with the Mutant Leader, Gordon has one just before [[spoiler:the Mutant tears out the Mayor's throat. With his teeth.]]* OldSoldier: Batman, obviously, but also Jim Gordon, Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, Superman (despite having not really physically aged) and Alfred to some extent. And less sympathetically, the Joker too.* OldSuperhero: One of the central themes of the overall plot is how age affects Batman in everything he does, from his tactics to combat to his overall state of mind.* OlderHeroVsYoungerVillain: The mid-50s Batman vs. the Mutant leader, who is "young [...] in his physical prime."* OstentatiousSecret: As [[ComicBook/GreenArrow Ollie]] points out to Bruce.-->Sure, you like to play it mysterious, but it's a '''loud''' kind of mysterious. Especially lately.[[/folder]]

[[folder: P-T]]* ParentalObliviousness: Carrie Kelley's parents, probably due to their drug abuse. Taken UpToEleven when they occasionally forget Carrie exists.-->'''Parent #1''': [''visible only as a trickle of dope smoke''] ...Hey...didn't we have a kid?* PersonOfMassDestruction: Superman is treated as the best deterrent against nuclear warfare.* PluckyGirl: Carrie, who at the age of 13 gets herself a Robin costume and goes out to fight crime armed only with a slingshot and a few firecrackers, and who earns Batman's respect by attacking the ''goddamn Mutant Leader'' when he's just about to defeat Batman. She downplays the perky associations of this trope, tending to be more sarcastic than outright cheerful, but she's spirited as hell and, apart from the occasional BSOD, never gives up.* PoweredArmor: Used (among other things) to fight Franchise/{{Superman}}.* PreMortemOneLiner: Inverted, in that it's the '''winner''' of the climactic battle that delivers it just before he dies.-->I want you to '''remember'''...the one man who '''beat''' you...* PunchClockVillain: The President notes he really doesn't really ''want'' to bring the Batman down, saying he'd have given him a medal in younger days, but all the chaos and public outrage over his one man war on crime is forcing his hand. Likewise, Superman is not happy about much of what he has to do but does the job nonetheless. * RecurringExtra:** The... ill-tempered ([[TheSociopath to put it mildly]]) Byron Brassballs, who both encounters Superman (who saved the handicapped man Byron had ''knocked onto the train tracks'') and later plays a role in the Gotham riots... [[spoiler:and in a nice bit of karmic retribution, gets his ass profoundly kicked by Batman]].** Rob and Don too. They keep running into Batman but hardly play a significant role in the story.* RealityEnsues: Batman's first fight with the Mutant Leader - a hulking, feral, bloodlusted brute with filed teeth and claws in the prime of his life. Batman gets badly mauled and beaten and is only saved by Carrie Kelley's intervention.* RedemptionInTheRain: The shot of fifty-five-year-old Bruce Wayne appearing as Batman for the first time in ten years, during a thunderstorm.* {{Retirony}}: Inverted, Commissioner Gordon proves he is still a badass by living till his planned retirement.%% * RevengeOfTheSequel* RightOutOfMyClothes: A serious version. When Superman hears [[spoiler:the nuclear missile headed toward Corto Maltese]], he takes to the air so fast that he leaves his civilian clothes and ''glasses'' hanging exactly where he left them--''while sitting in a Jeep''.* RobotKid: Abner builds them...to spray poison gas everywhere, then explode.* RuleOfThree: Batman tells Robin that if she disobeys, she'll be fired. She disobeys three times, but the third time, she saves his life.* TheScapegoat: Batman is accused by the media of inspiring a number of incidents, from a mentally-ill mob enforcer putting on a Batman costume and turning on his boss, to a very disturbed man's religiously-motivated shooting up of a porn theater. Meanwhile, a shop owner who actually WAS inspired by Batman chases off a purse-snatcher attacking an old lady. No one is hurt enough for this to make the news.* SeeYouInHell: [[spoiler:Joker]] says this to Batman [[spoiler:[[DrivenToSuicide before breaking]] [[NeckSnap his own neck]]]].* ServileSnarker: Alfred has always been this, but in TDKR he takes it UpToEleven, as he is at first very unhappy with the way Bruce has let himself go in his retirement from the cowl, and is even more unhappy when he goes back to being Batman because it not only makes him seem like he's forgotten the lessons of the past, it means Alfred has to patch him up again when he's hurt.* SettingUpdate: In the original stories the version of ''The Mark of Zorro'' that Bruce saw as a child was [[Film/TheMarkOfZorro the 1920 version]]. Miller updated it to [[Film/TheMarkOfZorro1940 the 1940 version]], putting Bruce's birth date in 1932 and making him a man in his mid-50s by the time of the story.* ShootTheHostageTaker: Batman solves a hostage situation by ''[[InvokedTrope threatening]]'' to do this. It probably helped that the thug was new meat who didn't know about Bats' "no killing" rule.* ShoutOut:** To an inept crook who was a running gag in Miller's ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'' days:---> '''Thug 1''': Can't be Batman. Turk say he killed Batman.\\'''Thug 2''': Turk says lots.*** Batman narrates, word-for-word that "I'm [[ComicBook/DaredevilBornAgain born again]]."** Two-Face [[Film/AClockworkOrange was fixed, all right]].** Corto Maltese is a shout out to [[Comicbook/CortoMaltese the famous Italian comic book by Hugo Pratt]]. Strangely, the name was used in the 1989 ''Film/{{Batman}}'' movie as an apparent ShoutOut to ''The Dark Knight Returns'' without recognizing that it was already a ShoutOut.** There is also a reference to a porn star named "Hot Gates". In Greek, "Hot Gates" is translated "Thermopylae," the setting of [[Film/ThreeHundred another]] of Frank Miller's creations. However, since ''300'' wasn't released for another twelve years, the reference ''here'' is to both the literal translation of Thermopylae and William Golding's (now out of print) collection of essays 'The Hot Gates and other occasional places'.** Batman's sarcastic internal monologue describing Superman quotes ''Film/MontyPythonsTheMeaningOfLife''.** The scene with the pimp in the cab is basically right out of the Creator/ClintEastwood film ''Film/MagnumForce''.* ShowWithinAShow: BBC's ''Superman on Trial'' docudrama depicts this story as an InUniverse fictional story created after talks Frank Miller had with Batman. Batman notes it's not something that happened, but something he's ''afraid'' of happening.%% * SilentScapegoat* SmokingIsCool: {{Averted|Trope}}. Gordon's cigar smoking has apparently started to cause health problems, and his internal dialogue when this is made evident shows his mortality is weighing on his mind.* SociopathicHero:** One interpretation of Batman in this story, especially in the later chapters. Creator/AlanMoore's introduction in one printing of the TPB specifically noted that one interpretation of Batman was "revenge-driven psychopath."** A generous interpretation of the Sons of Batman. They may be fighting crime, but their methods are anything but heroic.* SpellMyNameWithAnS: It's officially Carrie Kell'''e'''y, not Kelly.* SpitefulSpit: After [[spoiler:the Joker's death]], Batman pauses just long enough to spit in the face of his corpse before making his getaway.-->I waste one second...with a goodbye.* SplitPersonalityTakeover: Happens to [[spoiler:Two-Face; the reconstructive surgery fixed his face but seeing himself whole broke his mind and left his evil side in control]].* SpotlightStealingTitle: ''The Dark Knight Returns'' was originally released as ''Batman: The Dark Knight'', with "The Dark Knight Returns" being the first issue's title.* {{Squee}}: Most of Carrie's scenes with Batman.* StandingBetweenTheEnemies: Batman does this with a BigNo that occupies a panel, confronting the Sons of the Batman as they're preparing to go on a rampage after the power failure cripples the city.* StockSubtitle: "Returns."* TheStoner: Carrie's parents embody this to the point that all we ever see of them is the smoke from their joints.* AStormIsComing: Invoked in the weatherman's report on the storm that accompanies Bruce's return as Batman.--> '''Weatherman''': ... like the wrath of God, it's headed for Gotham.* TheStrategist: Batman of course, especially in his fight against Superman.* StrawmanPolitical: Features vapidly meaningless strawmen for all parts of the political spectrum because [[GoldenMeanFallacy that's how you make a valid point, right]]?* SubordinateExcuse: Carrie has a crush on Batman that would do Joker proud, and in the comics she dearly loves him. She dresses as Robin and fights crime, hears the Mutants are gathering at the dump and follows Batman there, because she loves him and wants to be close to him.* SuccessSymbiosis: Once Batman had retired, so did the Joker. [[spoiler: And once he comes out of retirement, The Joker follows suit.]]* SuperRegistrationAct: Superman gets strong-armed into working for the government.* TakeThat: ** The Mutants can be seen as a TakeThat to "angsty", rebellious teen superheroes made popular by Creator/MarvelComics. Fittingly, they're named "The Mutants" (Creator/StanLee's working title for ''Comicbook/XMen''), they wear red shades that look a lot like [[Comicbook/XMen Cyclops']] visor, and they despise adult authority figures. They form a perfect contrast to Batman, who's the epitome of the "traditional" DC superhero--an adult hero who's driven and fearless, and has zero tolerance for crime.** Batman's first batsuit, which is heavily damaged during his first fight with the Mutant Leader, bears some resemblance to the suit worn by Adam West in the [[Series/{{Batman}} 1960s series]]. His later decision to switch to a darker suit symbolizes him shaking off his previous depiction as a campy wisecracker and returning to his darker roots.** UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan is portrayed as a folksy buffoon who thinks country wisdom can run a country and almost starts a nuclear war.* TankGoodness: This version of the Batmobile, which would go on to be an inspiration for the Tumbler in Film/TheDarkKnightSaga. It's got treads. It's got armor strong enough that "the only thing I know of that can cut through its hide isn't from this planet." [[note]]He's referring to Superman, who proves the point in short order in the fourth issue[[/note]]. It's got machine guns. [[spoiler:"Rubber bullets. Honest."]] It's got at least two decent-sized artillery pieces. It takes up three lanes on the highway. It even has a gyro-stabilized medical bed and can be piloted home by Alfred. It's a god-damned Bat-Tank.* TechnicalPacifist: Batman will beat you, ''threaten'' to drop you off the ''tallest'' building in Gotham, and break every bone in your body... but he won't ''kill'' you.* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill:** The Sons of the Batman, who have turned their over-the-top violence as former Mutants to fighting crime instead of creating it. At one point, it's mentioned that they used napalm to break up a three card monte game. One SOB, after killing the aforementioned Nixon mask robbers, took a pair of wire-cutters and sliced off the store owner's fingers on one hand because, as he put it, "you did nothing to stop them."** The nuke that nearly [[spoiler:killed Superman]] was ''designed'' to create a "nuclear winter" scenario.* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Rob and Don.* ThouShaltNotKill: Also behind Batman's dislike of guns.** WordOfGod says that Batman didn't kill [[spoiler:the aforementioned Mutant who held the baby at gunpoint when he shot her with another Mutant's M-60, stating he shot her shoulder]]. The animated adaptation completely changes this sequence to remove the issue.** Gruesomely played with when [[spoiler:Batman has the perfect chance to kill the Joker]] but still refuses to. [[spoiler:The Joker notices... and kills himself just to screw with Batman.]]* TooDumbToLive: Dr. Wolper, and the entire studio audience/host for that matter. At one point, Joker even states that he's going to kill everyone in the room, but [[GenreBlindness Wolper dismisses it as a simple joke]].* TotallyRadical: See FutureSlang, above.** Played for laughs when Carrie reprograms the Bat-Copter to accept verbal commands from her. In ''slang''.--->'''Batman:''' [''to Bat-Copter''] Boosters! [''nothing happens''] '''Boosters!''' [''nothing happens''] What...\\'''Carrie:''' Peel.\\[''cue Boosters'']* TruthInTelevision: At the beginning two Mutants try and mug Bruce Wayne. They turn out to be {{Dirty Coward}}s when he sees them, they take into account his size, and run off when he stands his ground and is prepared to fight. It's common in RealLife for thugs like the Mutants to only target those who cannot defend themselves, and want nothing to do with those who can.* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: The entirety of the comic. "What happened to Batman after he retired?"[[/folder]]

[[folder: U-Z]]* UnwittingPawn: [[spoiler:Two-Face to the Joker.]]* UtilityBelt: Prominently featured in the first issue. Batman uses items from it to [[spoiler:defuse one of Two-Face's bombs]], and does a mental run-through of its items in boredom while he's waiting for [[spoiler:Two-Face to make his move on Gotham's Twin Towers]].* VitriolicBestBuds: Frank Miller's interpretation of Batman and Superman's relationship is that 'these two people do not like each other'.* WhatTheHellHero: From Alfred after Bruce waxes on about Carrie's qualities as Robin:--> '''Alfred''': Very well, sir, I shall come right out and say it. Have you forgotten what happened to Jason?* WorfHadTheFlu:** Despite having been catatonic for a decade and his injuries, Joker has a distinct edge over Batman. The same Batman that fought his way through the a police SWAT team and stopped at Batcave only to get supplies to investigate Joker's plan for the county fair before finally catching up to Joker in one night. Not only is Bats on his second wind for their final battle, but he's making the same mistake he did with the Mutant Leader: he's letting his feelings cloud his judgement against a much calmer opponent.** This also applies to Superman when he fights Batman. He's not at 100% after the nuclear missile, as Batman notes the missiles he shoots at Superman wouldn't have been able to hit him otherwise.* VomitingCop: Alluded to. After [[spoiler:ComicBook/TheJoker kills everyone at the TV studio]], somebody tells the commissioner that one of the rookies got sick and had to go home.* YouAreTheNewTrend: Rather than ignoring the Sons of the Batman, he recruits them as his own personal army after disarming them and all but calling them out for being fools in their old tactics. Admittedly, he had stopped them from following their previous leader who was proclaiming "This is our chance to [[KillItWithFire raze Gotham]]... to '''purge''' Gotham."* ZeerustCanon: The sequel.[[/folder]]